Concrete form



Nov. 1, 1927.

w. s. SMITH CONCRETE FORM Filed April 29, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 5 War/fey Nov. 1, 1927.

1,647,202 W. 3. SMITH CONCRETE FORM Filed April 29, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 1, 1927.

Filed April 29, 1924 W. S. SMlTH' CONCRETE FORM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 I I J A5 f 2/ 5 2/ im if 1K mx kiww xxmwwmw Ibiza/0r.

(lard 5 m zSmf/z his War/fey Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES WARD SPENCER SMITH, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

concnn'rn FORK. 7

Application filed April 29,

This invention relates to improvements in concrete forms and more particularly has to do with forms utilized in the erection of monolithic cellular structures.

Since the invention is particularly applicable to forms used in the construction of concrete cell blocks for mausoleums, I willdescribe the forms as put to this specific use. However, the confinement of the description to this particular embodiment is in or crypts, and since the cells are to be of substantially uniform cross section throughout their length, and since the cores can only be withdrawn through the cells months, the core forms must be inwardly collapsible and withdrawable through one end of the cell void. While it is further considered that the stripping of the inner end gate of the 001's from the rear cell wall must be accomlished from within the cell, it is self evident that it is no small problem to provide core forms having desirable collapsible characteristics and yet, when erected, ofi'ering proper resistance to the very considerable collapsing and Wracking strains which are imposed upon them during the pouring and setting of the concrete. To secure proper form rigidity, it has previously been found necessary to fill the interior of the core with nailed cross bracing, both diagonal and horizontal; but such anexpedient is not only costly in time and material consume-d, but is also destructive to the forms, since, if any time is to be made in stripping the cell walls, the braces must be torn loose hurriedly and without taking any special precautions to guard against damage to the form walls.

Therefore it is among the objects of my invention to provide a collapsible core form capable of being set up and knocked down with little efiort and in minimum time, and

1924. Serial H0. 709,787. k

which, when assembled, ofl'ers proper resiststripped from the cell walls and withdrawn through the cell 'mouths without causing damage to any of the form parts or brac-' ings, and without unduly mar-ring the'walls of the cells from which they are withdrawn. Even disregarding the great advantage my form offers inspeed of erection and stripping, the single fact that the life of the form is comparatively -longby reason of the method of assembly and bracing employedis one of great importance and value, for the forms may be used repeatedly and without constant attention and repair. It is well recognized that time and material loss in form replacement and repair exists as one of the principal factors in the ultimate cost of concrete construction and, ,when close figuring is done, often means the difference between profit and loss to the contractor.

As the cell blocks must be built up tier by tier, it is of some difficulty to so arrange the several core forms in each tier that they are axially parallel and so the partition walls to be poured will plumb up or come in exact vertical alinement with the partitions below. Such alinement is necessary, not only from the standpoint of sightliness and proper imposition and transfer of load, but also to insure that the facing strips-of ornamental stone, with which the cell openings are ordinarily out-lined, may be interchangeable and may be cut to size at the. factory and set in place on the job Without the requirement of special fitting.

I have provided forms which may be quickly set up with the assurance that they are in proper relative position with each other and with the cell block beneath, and the core forms and outer wall forms are tied in a manner to preserve such alinement during the pouring and setting of the concrete.

My invention has many other objects and features of novelty, certain of which will be set forth to better advantage in the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical cell block as constructed with my forms.

F ig. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspec tive showing the enlargement of the cell mouth to receive a sealing slab, such enlargement not being illustrated in Figure 1, due to the relatively small scale of that drawing.

Fig. 3 is a top planview of a cell block.

diagrammatically showing my core formswith covers removedsecured together by the front plate or fence.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the front plate or fence.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the core forms with their covers in place and showing the side and back wall form plates bolted up to the fence.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section on line 77 of Figure 5.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan View similar to a fragment of Figure 5' but showing the core covers removed.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9-9 of Figure 8, but showing the core cover and tie rods in place.

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section on line 11-11 of Figure 10; and

Fig. 12 is a face view of a newly formed ell after the front plate has been removed and before the core has been collapsed and 1 is illustrated a cell block C iase B, side walls S, rear wall B, top T, h rental partition H and vertical partitions V partitions H and V dividing the block into axially parallel cell voids or or pts A. Preferably, the mouths of the ce ls are slightly enlarged to provide recesses 10 for receiving a sealing slab (not shown) which is to be cemented in after a burial.

It will be understood that mausoleum cell blocks usually contain six or more tiers of cells, each tier being 20 or more cells wide, but it will serve my purpose to describe the relatively small cell block shown in Figure 1, as the forms and the procedure of erection and stripping are identical irrespective of the size of the mausoleum, except that large structures require jointed front and rear form plates.

It will also be understood that I provide ducts throughout the structure to provide a slow circulation of air through the cell, but since these ducts are not a part of this in vention, I have not shown nor described them.

The rectangular cell block in Figure 1 is shown prepared to receive an additional tier of crypts, there being provided wire loops L which extend upwardly from the upper face of top T and in vertical alinement with vertical partitions V, and the pointed pins or anchoring nails P and P which extend upwardly from top T near the front and rear, respectively, thereof. Loops L are bers to be hereinafter described. As will be later evident, loops L and anchors P, P need not be exactly located as they will perform their function if positioned anywhere within certain relatively large areas.

I will now describe the elements and make-up of a typical collapsible core form generally indicated at F. Referring to Figures 8 to 11', inclusive, it will be seen that form F made up of sides 11, cover 12, end gate 13, and spreader 1a. Sides 11 have vertical battens 15 which are so positioned that when cover 12 is in place, said battens lie close to the horizontal battens 16 of the cover. The upper ends of battens 16 are chamfered at 17 and 18, respectively, and the cover extends beyond the ends of battens 16 to provide for engagement between the cover extensions and the upper edges of sides 11, as clearly shown in Figure 10.

End gate 13 has a central vertical batten 19, preferably of wood, and two vertical edge battens 20, areferably of metal. Gen tral batten 19 supports a pull ring or loop 21, while battens 20 are provided with threaded holes 22 adapted to receive removable bolts 23 which extend through bores 24: in the rearmost battens 1 By reason of the predetermined location of holes 2 and 24, end gate 13 with bolts 23 serves as a gage to properly space sides 11 at their rearward ends, and due'to the bolted connection between end gate and sides, these members act as mutual supports to hold them against collapse. Spreaders 1 1 are made up of side rails 25, spacers 26 on top the rails, and nailin or anchoring strips 27 and 27 across the bottom of the rails near the frontand rear thereof, respectively. Spreaders 14 are of such width as to engage battens 15 when the side walls 11 are properly spaced.

The ends of battens 15 and 16 overlap as illustrated in Figure 11, and holes 28 provided through these overlapping portions are in axial alinement throughout, in order that they may receive a common tie rod 29 at each side of the core form. These holes are also in register with vapertures 30 in front plate or fence 31 (see Figure 4).

Plate 31 is adapted to define the front face of the top slab to be poured and the front face of the vertical partition which is to be formed between side walls of adjacent cores; to support the forward end of side walls 11; and to act as a gage board for properly spacing the several core forms and for positioning said forms in vertical alinement with underlying'cells. The plate is made up of horizontally extending upper :an' d' lower rails 32 and 33, respectively,vertical plates Ell-for closing off thevo-ids 35 between adjacentcore forms (see Figures 3 and 8), vertical braces 36 bolted to-plates 34;, and di agonal braces 37 bolted toadjacent braces 36.

Bolts 38 are adapted to reinovably clamp fence 31 to the foremost-vertical "battens 15", the registering bolt holes in said fence and battens being so located that bolts 38 serve to properly space the forward ends of sides 11, both of each individual core forms and of adjacent forms.

In preparing to set forms, wires 39 are first looped through loops L and are then laid out on top the cell block so their free ends extend straight back to rear wall T ie' end gate and sides of all the individual core forms are assembled by theproperinsertion of bolts 23 (this assembly taking place on top block C) and spreaders 1a are dropped between sides 11 but are not yet driven down on anchors P, P. During this assembly side walls 11 are roughly lined up with underlying partitions V and the forward ends of the sides are roughly lined up with the front face of block C.

A gage board 40 (Figure 3) is then used to properly space the rear ends of the forms and to line up said rear ends with the underlying cell voids A. Board 40 has a central marking and also markings 41 which are horizontally spaced a distance equal to the predetermined center to center distance of the cell voids. End gates 13 have center marks (not shown) on their outer faces. Gage board 40 is lightly nailed to the two center core forms so the center to'center markings on the board are coincident or in vertical alinement with the center marks on end gates 13. The two forms are then shifted along the top of the block until the center of board 40 lies in vertical alinement with the center of block C, the latter center being marked in any suitable manner on the foundation or on the rear walls of the block. Spreaders 1d of the two forms are then driven down so anchoring'pins or nails P enter nailing strips 27 to fix the rear end position of the cores. The remaining forms are then lined up with their centers in vertical alineinent with the center to center mark ings on the age board, and their respective spreaders anchored on underlying pins P. Gage boards 40 may then be removed.

Fence 31 is then attached to sides 11 of the two center forms by bolt 38, and a center marking 42 provided on the fence is lined up with the center line of block 0, whereupon the nailing strip 27 of the spreaders in these two forms are driven down upon nails P. The remaining core forms are then secured to fence 31 by bolts 38, but the upper course bolts are not fully taken up at this time. All the formsbeing then in axial parallelism and in-vertical' alinement with the cell voids below (since theforms of said cell voids were set up in the above described manner) nailing strips 27 are driven down on nails P'to removably secure all the-forms in this predetermined relation. Covers 12 are'then laid over the tops of the forms; tie rods 29 are thrust through holes 30 in fence 31 and registering holes 28 in battens 15 and 16; and all bolts 38 are fully taken up.

Spreaders 1 1 serve to hold the lower portions of sides 11 against collapse while rods 29 tiethe cover and sides in a manner to prevent such collapse at the top of the forms, no other type of internal bracing, such as diagonally extending cross bars, being. needed to resist strains of-load, wrack or 001- lapse. It will also be noted that the major portion of the weight of the concrete slab to be poured on cover 12 istransferred to top T throughbattens 16, rods 29 and battens 15; rather than through the extensions of the cover where they bear on the upper edges of sides 11. Should the latter condition exist, the edges of the cover and sides would soon yield to the strain and break away, while by my method of connection andweight transfer, the thinner portions of cover and sides neednotbe subjected to overloading or abuse.

In view of the chamfering' 17 (which chamfe-ring is provided for a purpose to be later described), it will be seen that bearing cannot be secured between the cover and ends of battens 15, making it all the more desirable that tie rods 29 be used to transfer the strains from batten to batten.

Horizontal strips 43 (Figures 5, 9 and 12') are then laid on top covers 12 at a point adjacent fence 31, and vertical strips 44; (Figures 8 and 12) are laid along sides 11 and in the vertical plane -43. These strips are for the purpose of forming sockets 10 as illustrated in Figure 2.

Front plate 31 is, of course, suspended in position by reason of its bolted connection with the cores, and the plate extends above top T a -dista-nce equal to'the thickness of the top slab to be poured. Side plates '46 and rear plate 17 (Figures 5, 7, 8 and 9) which are supported in a manner now to be described, extend upwardly a distance equal to the upward extension of plate 31, and the upward extensions of the four plates thus function as top slab defining walls as well as forming the end boundaries of the vertical walls to be pour-ed.

Rear plate 47 has vertically extending battens 49 which project below the lower edge of the plate proper, (Figure 7) while side plates 46 have battens 50 which extend similarly below their plates. Rear plate 47 overlaps the rear face of wallR at 51, and the lower edge of the plate rests on bars or rods 52 which are cast in and extend from said Wall-E. Bars 52. are so vertically spaced from the top of the block that they bring the upper edge of plate l? into the horizontal plane of. the upper edge of front plate 31.

The free ends of wire 39 are then passed outwardly from the top; while wires 39,

which correspond to wires 39 except that they were cast in the under-lying tier, are twisted aboutthe lower extremities of battens l9. Wires 39 and 39 hold the rear plate against separative movement from wall It and from end gates 13.

Side plates it rest on bars 54;, similarly to the resting of plates 47 on bars 52, and theopposite ends of plates at are bolted to frontplate 31 and rear plate ll at and 56, respectively (Figure 5). Thus all the core and plate forms are tied together and are held in predetermined relation both with each other and with cell block C. Wires 39 are especially adaptable to the purpose illustrated in that they be taken up with a twisting tool in order to slightly incline plates e7 towards forms F to compensate for slight outward movement of the plate when concrete is poured and tamped.

With the forms in place, suitable reinforcements such as is shown at 57 in Figures 8 and 9 may be inserted in the voids and suitably attached to reinforcing members which may project upwardly from the block below, and bars 58 (Figure 7) are inserted through suitable apertures in plate 47 and are caused to project into the void between said plate and the ends of cores F. The holes through which the bars extend are accurately located with respect to the top of the piate, so when the forms are stripped from tie structure, bars 58 will project from the newly formed rear wall in position to function in the form setting operation of the next higher tier, after the manner described in connection with plate l7 and bars '52.

After the concrete has been poured and has partially set, the forms are stripped in the following manner: Tie rods 29 are withdrawn, bolts 38 and 55 are removed, and the entire front plate 31 stripped from the structure, the front face of the cell then presenting the appearance illustrated in Fig. 12. bar is then inserted beneath nailing strips 27, and the spreader-s 14f pried loose from nails P and P, whereupon the spr-eaders may be with drawn through the cell mouth. A workman then enters the crypt and removes bolts 23 to free sides 11 from end gate 13. Suitable tools are entered in holes or sockets in battens l5 (Figure 12), and the lower ends of sides 11 are rocked inwardly and away from the side walls of the cell as indicated in dotted lines of Figure 12, the

chamfering 17 and 18 allowing such relative movement between sides 11 and cover 12. vVere it not for the provision of the chamfered ends, it will be seen that the ends of battens 15 and 16 would interfere with such movement of sides 11.

Covers 12 are pried loose from the top wall of the cell and then withdrawn; whereupon a pull rod is hooked into ring 21 enabling a workman to pullthe end gate loose from the rear wall of the cell.

As fast as the cores are collapsed and withdrawn, they may be erected on another cell block which is to have an additional tier. Bolts 56 are removed and wires 39, 39 untwisted, whereupon the side and rear plates may be stripped from their walls, it being necessary, of course, to move said plates horizontally to clear them from bars 58.

It will be understood that the drawings and description are to be considered merely as illustrative of the invention and not as restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, for certain changes in structure, design, arrangement and connecting means may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of such claims.

I claim:

it colla sible core for the construction monolithic cellular structures, including side walls, an end gate, a removable spreader adapted to engage the side walls near their lower edges, a removable cover, and remov-- able means for s curing the cover to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

2. A collapsible core for the construction of monolithic cellular structures, including side walls, an end gate secured to the side walls from within the core, a removable spreader adapted to engage the side walls near taeir lower edges, a removable cover,

and removable means for securing the cover 7 to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

A collapsible core for the construction of monolithic cellular structures, including side walls, an end gate, a removable spreader adapted to engage the side walls near their lower edges, said spreader consisting of spaced side rails engageable with opposite side walls of the core, and spacers joining the side rails; a removable cover, and removable means for securing the cover to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

l. A collapsible core for the construction of monolithic cellular structures, including side walls, an end gate, a removable spreader adapted to engage the side walls near their lower edges, said spreader consisting of spaced side rails engageable with opposite side walls of the core, and spacers joining the side rails; nailing strips on the spreader, a removable cover, and removable means for securing the cover to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

5. A collapsible core for the construction of monolithic cellular structures, including side walls, vertically arranged internal battens on the side walls, an end gate, removable spreader means adapted to engage the side walls near their lower edges, a removable cover,.horizontal battens on the inner face of the cover, the battens on the side walls and cover having overlapping portions, and removable means engageable with said portions for securing the cover to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

6. A collapsible core for the construction of monolithic cellular structures,including side walls, vertically arranged internal battens on the side walls, an end gate, removable spreader means adapted to engage the side walls near their lower edges, a removable cover, horizontal battens on the inner face of the cover, the battens on the side walls and cover having overlapping portions, removable tie rods passing through registering holes in the overlapping portions and adapted to secure the cover to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

7. A collapsiblecore for the construction of monolithic cellular structures, including side walls, vertically arranged internal battens on the side walls, an end gate secured to the side walls from within the core, removable spreader means adapted to engage the side walls near their lower edges,a rem0v able cover, horizontal battens on the inner face of the cover, the battens on the side walls and cover having overlapping portions, and removable means engageable with said portions for securing the cover to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

8. A collapsible core for the construction of monolithic cellular structures, including side walls, vertically arranged internalbattens on the side walls, an end gate, removable spreader means adapted to engage the side able cover, horizontal battens on the inner face of the cover, the battens on the side walls and cover having overlapping portions, the ends of the overlapping portions being chamfered; and removable means engageable with said portions for securing the cover to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

9. Ina collapsible form for the construction of monolithic cellular structures, a series of horizontally spaced collapsible cores, a front plate extending along the front of and walls near their lower edges, a remov-- secured to the cores, a rear plate extending across the rear ends of the core, and side plates bolted at opposite extremities t0 the front and rear plates, all of said plates extending above the core tops; certain of said cores embodying side walls, an end gate secured to the side walls from within the core, a removable spreader adapted to engage the side walls near their lower edges, a removable cover, and removable means for securing the cover to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

10. In a collapsible form for the construction of monolithic cellular structures, a series of horizontally spaced collapsible cores, a front plate extending along the front of and secured to the cores, a rear plate extending across the rear ends of the core, and side plates bolted at opposite extremities to the front and rear plates, all of said plates extending above the core tops, certain of said cores embodying side walls, vertically arranged internal battens on the side walls, an end gate secured to the side walls from within the core, removable spreader means adapted to engage the side walls near their lower edges, a removable cover, horizontal battens on the inner face of the cover, the battens on the side walls and cover having overlapping portions, and removable means engageable with said portions for securing the cover to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

11. A collapsible core for the construction of monolithic cellular structures, including side walls, a cover removably secured to the side walls at their upper edges, a removable spreader adapted to engage the side walls near their lower edges, and downwardly facing nailing strips on the spreader, the lower faces of said nailing strips being approximately in horizontal plane of the lower edges of the side walls.

12. In a collapsible form for the construction of monolithic cellular structures, a series of horizontally spaced collapsible cores, :1 front plate extending along the front of and secured to the cores, a rear plate extending across the rear ends of the core, and side plates bolted at opposite extremities to the front and rear plates, all of said plates extending above the core tops, certain of said cores embodying side walls, a removable spreader adapted to engage the side walls near their lower edges, a removable cover, and removable means for securing the cover to the side walls in a manner to prevent their relative displacement.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of April 1924.

WARD SPENCER SMITH. 

